[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Absolutely agree with that advice. Renting is the ONLY way to go, nothing anyone tells you is going to be a perfect "fit" for you. We use a golf cart almost exclusively for everything, even trips to the home improvement places, etc. In "snowbird" season, the lines of automobiles on major highways (like 466A, etc.) can have the cars backed up clear to the highway (due to ONE auto at a time going through the gate, it's quite a site at times). Golf cart can be much quicker and easier to find a parking spot too (carts park TWO to a space). Others, use a car for everything, even to a grocery which are in most (not all cases) really near each village. I walk a LOT daily, the villages does lack sidewalks in many places, but people do a lot of walking here. Pick a village carefully according to YOUR daily living pattern. Like to walk to church ? To the grocery daily instead of a weekly or bi-weekly trip in the car; then choose a convenient village to what you like. We live near a LOT of restaurants and stores. Possible to walk to places like Walmart, etc. Have relatives that might as well live "out of town" their village is so far from most things. It really pays to find your comfort zone, even the golf courses you like best, and then look at homes in the area you like. Don't think there is a lot of difference in the number of activities at each rec center, but there are many activities that are only offered at ONE certain rec center which could be miles away. That is because all the activities here are dependent on the generosity of the talented people who live here and share their expertise with the residents, no one is paid, therefore, every center may not offer ballet classes, or ceramic classes, etc. While most have volunteers who teach yoga, or some kind of exercise, also most have some drawing or painting classes. Once more, RENT first, get a "feel" for what your daily life pattern will be. Not an early riser, not a tennis or pickle-ball player, then do NOT buy a home beside or behind a rec center's courts ! When looking at homes, don't concentrate on the color of the walls or the flooring, look at the trees (are they palms, oaks, "hack-berry", a lot of expense, but some don't care about expense, they just want particular trees). How close are the bushes and plants to the home ? Roots are a major problem here and can cause even more expense as maintaining all the auto-sprinkler system stations can be very expensive (figure $300 if you don't do it yourself, dig up and replace the little filter screens, etc.) and this is something people for get to check out BEFORE they buy a home. Large out of control bushes close to the house, more root problems. Many don't stop to think that in Florida things (more or less) keep growing year 'round, it makes a difference and if you also hire all this done it can really add up to expenses you were not figuring in. Lot's of things to consider.

How do you walk home from a grocery store with things like Milk, eggs, butter, ice cream, etc? This past summer was really hot and sunny.